"Staging and Growing - Improve Your Collection Workshop"

Our April meeting will be a member-centered workshop, where members will get practical information on growing

plants as well as answers to any and all questions regarding the plants. Please bring your specimens to get them

identified, trimmed, staged, and get advice for any problem plants.

Our own experts, Artie Chavez, Steve Frieze, Sandy Chase and Manny Rivera - will each lead a station so you can

get hands-on advice and assistance with your plants.

Information on growing techniques, soil and potting mixes, fertilizing, pesticides, staging and propagation will be

available. This is the ideal time of the year for you to prepare for the June Show (June 11 & 12) and the Intercity

Show (August 13 & 14)!

The success of this program depends on us, the members. Let's scour our collections and bring the following:

PLANTS THAT NEED STAGING: For each plant, bring a choice of pots, hopefully two or three. Our experts will trim

and stage! The club will provide potting soil and John Matthews will have a selection of his unusual top dressing for

sale.

PLANTS THAT NEED NAMING: Our experts will find the right names.

SICK PLANTS: Our experts will advise how to improve them.

Any additional plants and questions you may have to the meeting on April 7 at 6:30 p.m.

We all enjoy hands-on workshops, and this is the night to prepare for the coming shows as well as improve our collections and knowledge. It is also a great opportunity to learn more about other members of the Club and what

plants they collect.

The Los Angeles Cactus & Succulent Society is a non-profit organization. Since 1935 our purpose has been the education, conservation, &

study of cacti & succulents. The “Cactus Chronicle” is the official bulletin of the Los Angeles Cactus & Succulent Society, an affiliate of the

Cactus & Succulent Society of America, Inc. Any material in the “Cactus Chronicle” may be copied or reproduced by other clubs on our

mailing list, or any non-profit organization, provided proper credit is given to the author and the Los Angeles Cactus & Succulent Society.

Visit Los Angeles Cactus and Succulent Society ONLINE at www.lacss.com

April 2011

CACTUS CHRONICLE

President: Artie Chavez (818) 201-7323 cactus7@socal.rr.com

Editor: Phyllis Frieze (818) 892-1669 Phyllis.98@hotmail.com

Next Meeting: April 7, 2011

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

The month of March came in like a lion bringing lots of cold weather. Hopefully, everyone‟s plants made it

through unharmed. By the time we had the meeting the weather improved and temperatures started to come

around to a more spring like feeling.

Woody Minnich, once again, was able to transport us to the fabulous land of Yemen through his pictures

and stories. Woody gave a wonderful overview of the architecture, culture, people, terrain, and plants of

Yemen.

The Monthly Drawing was a great success and we would like to thank John Trager and the Huntington

Botanical Gardens for supplying a wonderful selection of plants. The Board and I would like to express our

appreciation for the participation in the Monthly Drawing; as the donations will help us with future projects.

I want to stress the importance for members to use The Plant of the Month (POM) program, as a tool to

learn more about the plants we grow. It‟s another way to find out more about the culture and care, the

correct names, and staging of our plants. By sharing our plants in the Plant of the Month (POM) program,

it exposes the wide variety of Cacti and Succulents to the other members of the club.

By the time you receive this newsletter the first club event of the year will have happened. I hope everyone

took advantage of the hard work that Roxie Esterle has put in to organizing the Garden Tour and has

enjoyed a relaxing and fun day looking at some great plants and landscaping from some our members.

These members were kind enough to open their homes and yards for all of us to share the beauty of their

gardens.

Don‟t forget to mark your calendars for June 10th, 11th and 12th. This is the LACSS Show and Sale. We

need everyone‟s participation to make this a great success. The Show and Sales Committee is hard at work

putting together speakers, exhibits, and tying the loose ends.

Under the heading of “we must be doing something right” I am very pleased and would like to welcome all

the new members and guests who have attended the previous meetings of 2011. I want to encourage all the

guests to come back and become members. The Board and I have worked very hard to improve and make

the Club more appealing for the membership, whether you are novice or a more experienced grower, and

we will continue to work hard to improve the Club.

See you in April

Artie

THANK YOU

The following people deserve to be brought to the attention of the membership for their contributions and

devotion to the club. By no means is this a complete list, just a few special “Thank You’s”

Walt and Maxine Wegner: They have been members for over 40 years and have held a number of positions

in the club from President to Secretary and Newsletter Editors and have opened their home, to yet, another

home tour. Walt and Maxine have donated door prizes and plants for new members and guests for as long

as I can remember. It’s a pleasure to see their smiling and encouraging faces at each meeting

John Noster Sr.: he is the man behind the scenes when it comes to refreshments. John makes a mean cup of

coffee.

Al Denny: he always has a joke and has been very generous with plant donations and sharing many

cuttings from his yard.

Norma Lewis: she is always willing to share, whether it be plants, knowledge, or her home for beginners to

learn her growing tips.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

Refreshments: for the April meeting, if your last name begins with the letters N-R, Nicholson, Nolan,

Noster, Nudell, Oster, Palmer, Peacock, Pinto, Polakow, Radamaker, Rameriz, Richert, Rivera, Rogers,

Roosman, Rowan, Rudolph, Russell

In our Library: The Plant of the Month selections for May are: In the cactus category are Epiphytes: which

are covered in most general Cactus books. The Succulent selection is Echeveria, we have Echeverias, “A

Guide to Cultivation and Identification of the Poplular American Succulents”, “The Genus Echeveria”,

“Echeverias”, “Echeveria Cultivars”

Chronicle and Name Badges: Richard Roosman will now be sending out the Newsletter and will be in charge

of the engraved name badges the price is $6.50

New Programs: Starting in May the Club will embark on some new educational programs, the Cactus

Garden (weather permitting), Mentor Program, and New Member Workshop so stay tuned for these exciting

programs

We Want Your Stories

The Board of Directors has had several discussions on the content of the Chronicle and think it would be stimulating to have some fresh ideas about the world of cactus and succulents. We want volunteer “guest columnists” to write an article or submit interesting information concerning the plant world. We know so many of you could easily write 500 words on your favorite topic, such as – how I got interested in cactus and/or succulents, my favorite potting soil, my favorite plant (or least favorite), and why. We would like people to an article or a tidbit of information to be published in the Chronicle.

Please email your submission to me by April 20, 2011 for the May 2011 issue. It would be helpful if you could let me know the subject you will write on and what month it can be sent to me for inclusion.

You can email me at Phyllis.98@hotmail.com or by phone at 818-892-1669.

Expenditures Category Amount

Rent  on Meeting Room $900.00

Guest Speakers   $1,650.00

Chronicle Distribution          $300.00

Plant Raffle            $495.00

Roster Printing            $300.00

Office Supplies & Business Cards         $100.00

Monthly Meeting Refreshments              $250.00

Library Books                     $300.00

Annual Post Office Box               $72.00

CSSA Affiliate Dues                           $50.00

Special Awards                           $50.00

Insurance          $520.00

Bank Charges                               $36.00

Christmas Party         $900.00

Donations (Gunner-Huntington)         $100.00

June Show                                $4,000.00

BBQ for June Show           $1,000.00

Garden Restorations         $400.00

Member Tours                    $300.00

Miscellaneous                         $500.00

Proposed Expenditures $12,223.00

Submitted by Sandy Chase, Treasurer

PROPOSED 2011 BUDGET EXPENDITURES

Southern California 2011 Calendar of Events

April 9 & 10 South Coast Cactus & Succulent Society Show & Sale

South Coast Botanic Gardens 26300 Crenshaw Bl., Palos Verdes, Ca Info. 310-832-2262

APR 16 & 17 Green Scene Plant Sale The Fullerton Arboretum

1900 Associated Road, Fullerton, Ca 92831 APR 24-29TH CSSA Convention, San Diego, Ca------ Marriott Hotel-Mission Valley

Watch For Future Updates www.Cssainc.Org

Plant–of-the-Month

2011

January Gymnocactus and Ortegocactus Aloe hybrids

February Mammillaria (single head) Dudleya

March Echinocereus

Asclepiads -caudiciform and

tuberous forms

April Gymnocalycium (multiple heads) Sansevieria

May Epiphytes Echeveria

June Turbinicarpus and Frailea

Mesembs(other than Lithops and

Conophytum) e.g. Pleiosplilos,

Lapideria

July Tephrocactus Adenia

August Brazilian cacti Pachypodium (African species)

September Ferocactus Euphorbia (stem forms)

October Ariocarpus Terrestrial Bromeliads

November Monstrose and Crest Monstrose and Crest

December Holiday Party

Entry Classes: All new members, new to the hobby, should enter plants in the Novice class. Novices must move to the

Advanced class after they have won a total of 40 first place awards in the Plant of the Month competition or who have been a

member of the LACSS for three years or more. Individuals who own a nursery are required to enter in the Open class.

Members must determine which class is appropriate for their skill level and must then continue to enter in that class for the

remaining of the calendar year.

Prizes: All prizes are awarded at the Holiday Celebration in December. Trophies are awarded by entry class for those

members who scored the most points in either the cacti or combined succulent categories. In the Novice and Advanced classes

the top two scorers in each of the plant categories will also receive a prize (typically a plant). These prizes are awarded based

on the total number of points scored during the year. Finally, a trophy is awarded to members, regardless of class, who have

earned the most points in the cactus and/or succulent categories during the prior year. Entry Requirements: All entrants must be LACSS members. Members are restricted to 3 plants per entry category per month

– a total of 6 plants. In the Advanced and Open Classes, members must have been in possession of their plants for at least one

year. Those members showing in the Novice class may immediately enter a recently obtained plant. You can only enter plants

that conform to the Plant of the Month schedule described above.

Judging Scale* Points Awarded

Condition 50% First 5

Size and Maturity 25% Second 3

Staging 20% Third 1

Nomenclature 5% Entry Award** 1

* Plants that are in flower and the rarity of the entry are two additional criteria judges employ in determining monthly winners. ** Each member who enters one or more plants in a Plant-of-the-Month mini-show will be awarded a point for their

participation which can be added to any other awards they receive for that month.

LACSS 2011Board Members

Artie Chavez, President Tim Harvey, VP, Programs Manny Rivera, VP, Plant of the Month Doug George, VP, Special Events Sandy Chase, Treasurer Helen Frank, Secretary Phyllis Frieze, Newsletter Editor

Novice Division

Succulent - Asclepiads

Award Name Plant

First Kim Thorpe Stathmostelma praetermissum

Second Ronit Weiss Fockea edulis

Third Kim Thorpe Fockea edulis

None

Cactus - Echinocereus

First Kim Thorpe Echinocereus sp.

Second Ronit Weiss Echinocereus pectinatus

Third Ronit Weiss Echinocereus pectinatus v. rigidissimus

Advanced Division

Succulent - Asclepiads

Award Name Plant

First Barbara Hall Fockea tugelensis

Second Norma Lewis Fockea edulis

Third Barbara Nolan Fockea edulis

Cactus - Echinocereus

First Barbara Hall Echinocereus schmollii

First Barbara Nolan Echinocereus sp.

Second Barbara Nolan Echinocereus sp.

Open Division

Succulent - Asclepiads

Award Name Plant

First Artie Chavez Petopenia natalensis

Second Artie Chavez Fockea edulis

Third Manny Rivera Fockea comaru

Cactus - Echinocereus

None

Plant of the Month - March Winners

Los Angeles Cactus and Succulent Society

Cactus of the Month April 2011 – Gymnocalycium

Gymnocalycium pflanzii

Gymnocalycium are among the most

popular of cacti, from the novice through

the advanced grower. They are easy to

grow; flower readily; come in a large

number of distinguishable species; look

great in flower, in bud, and even when

dormant. A well grown plant will often

flower several times during the year.

Gymnocalycium is an old genus, first

named in 1845. The genus is named for

the naked (spineless) calyx (the

outermost covering of the bud and lower

flower). Most Gymnocalycium are also

readily identified by their „chins‟

beneath the areoles.

The heart of the genus Gymnocalycium

is Argentina, although the genus

stretches into Southeastern Bolivia,

Western Paraguay, Uruguay, and into

the Southernmost part of Brazil. For the

most part Gymnocalycium are grassland

plants, growing and shaded in the grass

of the Pampa and Chaco (dry forest) that

covers much of Argentina. As a result,

most like some protection from full

afternoon sun, but need bright light

during the day.

Gymnocalycium cultivation is easy.

They need a dry rest during the winter;

they can take Southern California

climate without winter heat, as long as

they are dry. They should be fed

regularly with a weak general purpose

fertilizer when growing. They are

tolerant of any well drained soil, but

constant wet will cause the roots to rot.

Fortunately, they are easy to re-root,

with roots generally re-growing in a just

few months.

Gymnocalycium are easy to grow from

seed, started in a well drained, damp

potting mix in a plastic bag covered pot.

Germination is fairly rapid, but growth

during the first year is slow compared to

most Mammillaria and many other

genera. Vegetative propagation is also

easy. Offsets from clumps can be

removed, left to dry for a few days and

potted. They generally root within a few

weeks.

All the species and all the varieties and

forms of Gymnocalycium are worth

growing.

Other interesting species include

Gymnocalycium baldianum (red flower),

bayrianum, bruchii (pink flower), horstii

(pink flower), mesopotamicum,

mihanovichii, pungen, ragonesei,

saglionis, schroederianum, spegazzinii,

and striglianum.

Gymnocalycium bruchii

Gymnocalycium baldianum

Gymnocalycium mihanovichii

Gymnocalcium spegazzinii

Reference:

Pilbeam, J., Gymnocalycium, A

Collector’s Guide

Tom Glavich September 2004

Edited, Steve Frieze April 2011

Los Angeles Cactus and Succulent Society

Succulent of the Month - April 2011 Sansevieria

Sansevieria patens by Karen Ostler

photo T. Nomer

There are about 60 species of

Sansevieria, but since many of the

species are variable and have widespread

habitats, there are more names than this.

There are also dozens of cultivars,

particularly of variegated Sansevieria.

They are currently in the Dracenaceae

family, but have moved through the

„dumping ground‟ families. In older

references, they will be found in the

Lilaceae, Aloinaceae, Agavaceae, and

other families. Most Sansevieria are

native to Africa, although some come

from India, Asia and the South Sea

Islands.

They are among the easiest of all

succulent plants to grow, requiring only

a pot or a spot in the ground. They are

tolerant of incredible neglect and abuse,

but most grow rapidly and well if

watered and fertilized regularly. They

do well in Southern California outdoors

or in, and suffer damage only if they are

cold and wet. They are free from most

pests,

suffering only rarely from scale. They

are prone to fungal rusts, particularly in

damp weather. The only cure for rust is

to cut off the infected leaves, sterilizing

the cutting tool after each cut (an alcohol

wipe will do) and then spray the entire

plant with a fungicide such as Funginex.

Prevention is much easier. Bright light

and moving air prevent most rusts.

Sansevieria propagation is remarkably

easy. Cut a piece off, let it dry for a few

days, and stick it in some potting soil.

They propagate readily from leaves (tips

are best), rhizomes, roots, etc.

Variegation is very common in

cultivated Sansevieria, and variegated

plants form the majority of some

collections. A variegated pup will appear

on an otherwise normal plant. The

variegation can be preserved by

removing the pup and a portion of the

rhizome, and growing it on. If this is not

done, the variegated pup, being weaker

than the rest of the plant will not

reproduce. Variegated plants are slower

growers than normal plants, and are

much more sensitive to cold and wet

conditions. They need protection,

particularly in the winter. They are also

sensitive to standing water in their

crowns, quickly rotting it water is

allowed to remain.

References

H. Stover The Sansevieria Book

U. Eggli, Editor Monocotyledons

2011 DROUGHT TOLERANT PLANT FESTIVAL

Water Wise - Money Wise

Educational displays and plant sale

Sponsored by: Los Angeles Cactus and Succulent Society

DATE — JUNE 11 (9:00-5:00) and June 12 (9:00-3:30) — Set Up Friday, June 10th

PLACE—Sepulveda Garden Center, 16633 Magnolia Boulevard, Encino

THEME— Drought Resistant Plant Festival - To improve ways to fulfill the Club's

mission statement of "education, conservation and the study of cacti and succulents".

In the past our show and sale has concentrated on the educational aspect with our

extremely successful informational exhibits. The current approach will be to educate

and demonstrate how cacti and succulents have had all of these qualities long before

it was necessary and how these plants fit into landscape design with other plants.

SHOW AND SALE FORMAT—The show will be divided into two distinct exhibitions.

The show committee will be asking select members and vendors to build a landscaping

exhibit. These exhibits will be located on the grass area. All members will be asked

and encouraged to show their favorite plants in a traditional show located in the

Garden Center building. As was the case last year, there will be an attendant at

each landscape plot to answer questions along with signage to explain the exhibit.

Guest speakers will be invited to give talks on a variety of topics including the

following potential topics; container gardening, pest control and fertilization, native plants, child friendly gardens.

The show chairs are John Martinez and Joyce Schumann (818-705-3224). They will

need to know by May 15th the number of plants, genus and category you will exhibit

in the show. Vendors will be selling landscaping plants in addition to their usual

merchandise.

The Bromeliad Society will be an active participant in the Festival as they have been

in the past.

Of Special Importance: Publicity is critical to the success of this Festival. Flyers, post

cards, and email announcements will be distributed. Retail nurseries and other

garden centers will also be contacted. Involvement of all LACSS members is critical to

the success of the Festival.

From the Stacks of the Library - April 2011 By Joyce Schumann

LACSS Librarian

From the Stacks of the Library

Hi All,

I trust none of you got caught with an old April Fool’s joke!

For this month’s book selection, we have four new items for your reading pleasure. The first

two are actually CDs. “Sansevieria” is the topic of one. This should be of interest to the

POM (plant of the month) participants. The other one is titled “Encyclopedia of Landscape Plants for the Southwest” by Philippe Faucon. The third selection is a booklist published by

Silverhill Seeds of Cape Town, South Africa. For those of you who want to expand your

personal plant library with books about something other than cacti and succulents, this is an

excellent resource. The fourth item is book. by Tony and Suzanne Mace who have authored

several books on plants, two of which are in our Library – Mesemb Study Group and

Notocactus. Our new book is titled “Cactus and Succulents – a care manual.” In

addition to the excellent chapters on cultivation, propagation, equipment, etc, there is an

unusual chapter entilted “Myths and Urban Legends”.

Two other featured books will be multi-tasking this month as both are about

Gymnocalyciums – our POM (plant of the month) and, as a continuing entry in our “Then and

Now” feature: The “Then” book is authored by E.W. Putnam, published in 1978. The “Now”

book is authored by Graham Charles and published in 2009. What a difference 31 years can

make!! The maps are excellent! This is a must see, if for nothing else but the beauty of the

photos.

What other books are available? Stop by the Library table and CHECK IT OUT!! And

while you are there, pick up a current book list……….

See you soon.

Joyce, the Librarian

CACTUS CHRONICLE April 2011

Cactus & Succulent Society

First Class Mail

PO Box 280581, Northridge, CA 91328

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Visit Los Angeles Cactus and Succulent Society ONLINE at www.lacss.com

Next Meeting: April 7, 2011 Sepulveda Garden Ctr. 16633 Magnolia Bl. Encino

General Meeting starts at 7:30 PM on the first Thursday of the month at the Sepulveda Garden Center

located at 16633 Magnolia Blvd. in Encino between Hayvenhurst and Balboa. Set-up and social hour starts at 6:30 PM.

Bring a smile! Make new friends! GUESTS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME!

Upcoming Program for April: Plant Workshops:

Staging, Naming Unidentified Plants And Much, Much More